Dive Sangat Dive!
A brief history with holes about some of the shipwrecks I explored is worth a brief informational blog for divers and explorers alike.
For Sangat Island (Tangat Island old name) these shipwrecks are here because the U.S. Naval Air Force was in the middle of heavy air strikes in Manila Bay. 15 vessels sunk there and others were ordered to move out of range of the naval air strikes and land-based bombers. One of the spots the Japanese thought was out of range was Coron Bay, approximately 14 hours away by ship from Manila. There are 11 known wrecks in diving depth range, 20 – 40 meters, mostly clustered in Coron Bay. The airstrike on Coron Bay began September 23, 1944 with mop up runs into October. While executing these airstrike a number of U.S. planes were lost for two main reasons, running out of fuel on their return or hit by anti-aircraft fire. The air strikes were being attempted from 340 miles away. The 38 Task Force and others sent 96 Grumman F6F Hellcat Fighter escorts and 24 Curtiss FB2C Helldiver Dive Bombers and attacked the Japanese ships of various size and purpose clustered together in Coron Bay. The Japanese ships swinging on anchor didn’t have a chance against the U.S. planes attacking alternately from starboard or port for 20 minutes. Torpedoes struck their targets and ships exploded and some went up in flames then sunk, some over time. These vessels now lie on the sea floor in various conditions and positions. Japanese naval personnel died on most ships although there were some ships that were scuttled and the crews fled in lifeboats.
A second squadron was sent to sink the remaining ships and they met the same end.
From here on out I’m quoting and showing pictures I saw on the walls around the dive shop. The pictures were painted by Chell A. Castillo in 2010 and remain on the wall of the dive shop. Then I got in the water and saw them for what they have become; respected, revered, and remembered. The history of these wrecks should be important to anyone who is curious about this certain area and era of our mutual global past. This happened and you should come see this underwater museum. The aquatic life surrounding the wrecks is as much an interest as the wrecks themselves, batfish, grouper, barracuda, cuttle fish, sea horses, turtles, lionfish, scorpion fish, stonefish, banded sea snake, spotted rays, and a plethora of other sea life that I can’t name. The shipwrecks I explored are listed below and there are more that were out of range for one person to dive. Four people interested in a particular shipwreck is the magic number for more distant points of interest whether it’s shipwrecks, fresh water diving in a warm lake or an underwater entrance to a cave.
Akitsushima, the only true war ship in the group. It was a seaplane tender180 meters in length and lying on her starboard side in approximately 36 meters of water. A massive crane that was in operation at the time it was hit is still attached at the stern and the top of it reaches out to the sand and silted bottom of the sea. An AA (anti-aircraft) gun is still mounted to the deck.
Olympia Maru, a cargo ship 120 meters long lying on its starboard side in 10-25 meters of water. The big cargo holds and engine room have fairly easy access. When you’re outside the vessel keep an eye out for stonefish and big lionfish lurking in the plant life.
Kogyo Maru is a Japanese freighter 160 meters long lying in 34 meters of water on her starboard side. A couple of the cargo holds have construction materials that spilled when the ship hit bottom. I saw a mountain of concrete bags, cement mixer, a bulldozer, etc. On deck AA weapons remain.
Okikawa Maru, a 180 meter long oil tanker in 26 meters of water. There are a couple vessels that have oddly mistaken names sometimes issued the wrong name only to discover later that the named vessel previously sank in Manila Bay. Recording back in the day was sketchy at best and the Japanese were in no mood to cooperate so the U.S. had some difficulty getting it right but no matter.
Irako, refrigeration ship 200 meters long and 40 meters down. The refer baffles are easily recognized.
Lusong Gunboat or U-boat Hunter, 20 meters long and 12 meters under. At low tide the stern is easily available to snorkelers. The Lusong is resting in a coral garden with stacks of fish and coral colors. There’s not much interior exploration but with all the other vessels there is plenty. I didn't have a picture of the Lusong Gunboat. :)
Kyokuzan Maru, another freighter 180 meters long and at 40 meters max depth. I didn’t get to see everything in this vessel and many of the vessels take more than one dive to see everything. Depth is your time killer, as divers know. There is still some staff cars tucked away but the sediment is slowly and surely burying them. Again no pic, sorry.
Morazan, a cargo ship 140 meters long and in about 26 meters of water.
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